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Dunford Bows Out of Search for Virus Oversight Chair, Leaving it Leaderless Dunford Bows Out of Search for Virus Oversight Chair, Leaving it Leaderless
(32 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the top choice of congressional leaders to chair a bipartisan coronavirus oversight commission, has taken himself out of the running for the post, the latest setback in Congress’s efforts to keep tabs on the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid.WASHINGTON — General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the top choice of congressional leaders to chair a bipartisan coronavirus oversight commission, has taken himself out of the running for the post, the latest setback in Congress’s efforts to keep tabs on the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid.
The commission has been leaderless since its creation in April, as Republicans and Democrats have failed to agree on a chairman. In recent weeks, General Dunford, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had emerged as the clear favorite of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, and Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, to lead the panel, and was going through the final stages of vetting for the job.The commission has been leaderless since its creation in April, as Republicans and Democrats have failed to agree on a chairman. In recent weeks, General Dunford, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had emerged as the clear favorite of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, and Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, to lead the panel, and was going through the final stages of vetting for the job.
His decision to withdraw, confirmed on Tuesday by friends and other people familiar with the situation who insisted on anonymity to discuss the situation, leaves the committee without a driving force even as Congress prepares to debate another round of government assistance amid a worsening pandemic.His decision to withdraw, confirmed on Tuesday by friends and other people familiar with the situation who insisted on anonymity to discuss the situation, leaves the committee without a driving force even as Congress prepares to debate another round of government assistance amid a worsening pandemic.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Representative Donna E. Shalala, Democrat of Florida and one of the panel’s four members. “We need a chair, and we need to hire staff.”“I’m very disappointed,” said Representative Donna E. Shalala, Democrat of Florida and one of the panel’s four members. “We need a chair, and we need to hire staff.”
The five-member Congressional Oversight Commission, created by the stimulus law enacted in April, is tasked with monitoring $500 billion in bailout money.The five-member Congressional Oversight Commission, created by the stimulus law enacted in April, is tasked with monitoring $500 billion in bailout money.
Democrats insisted on adding multiple layers of oversight to the package — even holding up its passage to demand stricter accountability measures — saying that the Trump administration could not be trusted to administer the aid without monitoring by Congress. But its work has been hampered by a lack of leadership.Democrats insisted on adding multiple layers of oversight to the package — even holding up its passage to demand stricter accountability measures — saying that the Trump administration could not be trusted to administer the aid without monitoring by Congress. But its work has been hampered by a lack of leadership.
The commission has thus far produced two reports and is about to release a third. Its first report in May concluded that the Treasury Department had disbursed only $37.5 billion of the funding at the time.The commission has thus far produced two reports and is about to release a third. Its first report in May concluded that the Treasury Department had disbursed only $37.5 billion of the funding at the time.
In June, the commission wrote that the way that the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve was using the bailout money had benefited larger companies, but there was “less evidence” of a positive impact for “small and mid-sized businesses and state and local governments” — noting that the Municipal Liquidity Facility had by that point supported only one state: Illinois.In June, the commission wrote that the way that the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve was using the bailout money had benefited larger companies, but there was “less evidence” of a positive impact for “small and mid-sized businesses and state and local governments” — noting that the Municipal Liquidity Facility had by that point supported only one state: Illinois.
Still, without a chair and staff, it has been difficult for the panel to provide ample oversight and hold hearings investigating the Trump administration’s handling of the money.Still, without a chair and staff, it has been difficult for the panel to provide ample oversight and hold hearings investigating the Trump administration’s handling of the money.
“We’ve all been working together,” Ms. Shalala said of the commissioners, two of whom were named by Democrats and two by Republicans. “We’ve been producing first-class reports. But it’s killing us. It’s hard to do hearings without staff.”“We’ve all been working together,” Ms. Shalala said of the commissioners, two of whom were named by Democrats and two by Republicans. “We’ve been producing first-class reports. But it’s killing us. It’s hard to do hearings without staff.”
For months, lawmakers and outside groups have prodded Ms. Pelosi and Mr. McConnell to quickly reach a compromise and choose a chair for the committee. Along with General Dunford, Sheila C. Bair, a former chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, has also been floated as a potential chair.For months, lawmakers and outside groups have prodded Ms. Pelosi and Mr. McConnell to quickly reach a compromise and choose a chair for the committee. Along with General Dunford, Sheila C. Bair, a former chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, has also been floated as a potential chair.
Filling the job has been a particular challenge given the glaringly partisan nature of the political debate around the coronavirus and the Trump administration’s response, which has made it difficult for Democratic and Republican congressional leaders to find a willing candidate upon whom they can agree.Filling the job has been a particular challenge given the glaringly partisan nature of the political debate around the coronavirus and the Trump administration’s response, which has made it difficult for Democratic and Republican congressional leaders to find a willing candidate upon whom they can agree.
Further deepening the challenge are senate ethics rules that bar from the position anyone employed for more than 90 days in the current calendar year or earning more than $25,000 from serving as an officer of a public company . The pay for commission members who are not federal employees is prorated based on annual pay of around $219,000, according to the stimulus law. One of the people familiar with the situation said that General Dunford had withdrawn because he had determined that service on the board was not compatible with his other commitments.Further deepening the challenge are senate ethics rules that bar from the position anyone employed for more than 90 days in the current calendar year or earning more than $25,000 from serving as an officer of a public company . The pay for commission members who are not federal employees is prorated based on annual pay of around $219,000, according to the stimulus law. One of the people familiar with the situation said that General Dunford had withdrawn because he had determined that service on the board was not compatible with his other commitments.
Last month, Senator Kamala Harris and Representative Katie Porter, both Democrats of California, sent a letter to legislative leaders urging greater oversight of how the Trump administration was handling billions of dollars in relief funds. They argued the Trump administration was dragging its feet on distributing the money, and should be subject to tough questioning from the body.Last month, Senator Kamala Harris and Representative Katie Porter, both Democrats of California, sent a letter to legislative leaders urging greater oversight of how the Trump administration was handling billions of dollars in relief funds. They argued the Trump administration was dragging its feet on distributing the money, and should be subject to tough questioning from the body.
“Every dollar that is not spent in the direct service of the American people, through programs like stimulus payments and expanded unemployment benefits, must be accounted for, and every decision as to how those dollars are spent must be scrutinized,” Ms. Harris and Ms. Porter wrote.“Every dollar that is not spent in the direct service of the American people, through programs like stimulus payments and expanded unemployment benefits, must be accounted for, and every decision as to how those dollars are spent must be scrutinized,” Ms. Harris and Ms. Porter wrote.
Such concerns were also raised during a recent hearing of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.Such concerns were also raised during a recent hearing of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
“The absence of a chair is a crippling deficiency,” said Damon A. Silvers, policy director at the AFL-CIO, told lawmakers.“The absence of a chair is a crippling deficiency,” said Damon A. Silvers, policy director at the AFL-CIO, told lawmakers.
As Congress enters into a fresh round of negotiations about providing additional stimulus funding, some are increasingly worried about deficiencies in the $2.2 trillion stimulus package — and a lack of oversight of where the money has gone. The measure was drafted hastily in March at a time when lawmakers in both parties were eager to quickly pass proposals that could promptly inject money into the sputtering economy. But some lawmakers and experts now argue that the rush by Congress yielded a bill that in some cases did not work as intended, and they say that more needs to be done to make sure the funding — and any future aid — is not wasted.As Congress enters into a fresh round of negotiations about providing additional stimulus funding, some are increasingly worried about deficiencies in the $2.2 trillion stimulus package — and a lack of oversight of where the money has gone. The measure was drafted hastily in March at a time when lawmakers in both parties were eager to quickly pass proposals that could promptly inject money into the sputtering economy. But some lawmakers and experts now argue that the rush by Congress yielded a bill that in some cases did not work as intended, and they say that more needs to be done to make sure the funding — and any future aid — is not wasted.
Updated July 7, 2020
The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
Bharat Ramamurti, a member of the oversight commission and former economic adviser to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, said the last round of stimulus funding had helped “big corporations and the owners of financial assets, but the Treasury and the Fed programs have not provided much help to mid-sized companies and the state and local governments.”Bharat Ramamurti, a member of the oversight commission and former economic adviser to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, said the last round of stimulus funding had helped “big corporations and the owners of financial assets, but the Treasury and the Fed programs have not provided much help to mid-sized companies and the state and local governments.”
Mr. Ramamurti said the Trump administration is only partly responsible for the disparity.Mr. Ramamurti said the Trump administration is only partly responsible for the disparity.
“Part of the blame goes to the design of the program,” Mr. Ramamurti said, noting that Congress is also partly at fault for agreeing to put the Federal Reserve in charge of bailout money.“Part of the blame goes to the design of the program,” Mr. Ramamurti said, noting that Congress is also partly at fault for agreeing to put the Federal Reserve in charge of bailout money.
He said he was “pretty proud of the work the commission has done without a chairman,” but added that a leader was necessary if the panel was going to undertake “in-depth analysis of these programs.”He said he was “pretty proud of the work the commission has done without a chairman,” but added that a leader was necessary if the panel was going to undertake “in-depth analysis of these programs.”
Republicans on the panel have been far less critical.Republicans on the panel have been far less critical.
Representative French Hill of Arkansas said the stimulus package had helped stabilize the economy, adding that he was not particularly concerned about the billions of dollars sitting unused in the stabilization fund.Representative French Hill of Arkansas said the stimulus package had helped stabilize the economy, adding that he was not particularly concerned about the billions of dollars sitting unused in the stabilization fund.
“The Congress and the executive branch have to be commended for rapidly pulling together bills to attack the virus and try to get the economy back to full capacity,” Mr. Hill said. “There were modest delays, but it was well-received in the country, and very helpful given the impact of public-health shutdowns of business activities around the country.”“The Congress and the executive branch have to be commended for rapidly pulling together bills to attack the virus and try to get the economy back to full capacity,” Mr. Hill said. “There were modest delays, but it was well-received in the country, and very helpful given the impact of public-health shutdowns of business activities around the country.”
Helene Cooper and Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.Helene Cooper and Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.